Category: General News

Celebrating New Transit Connections

Congratulations to Greater Portland METRO on the launch of new service connecting Portland, South Portland, and Scarborough! The ribbon-cutting marks an exciting step forward for regional mobility and provides passengers with more convenient options to reach jobs, health care, and other important destinations.

Route #25 will serve destinations along Route 1 in Scarborough, traveling from Portland via the Veterans Bridge and Main Street in South Portland. New service will provide access to key destinations, including the VA Clinic on Commercial Street, the MaineHealth medical campus, and the Exit 42 Park-n-Ride — offering commuters an easy connection between transit and the broader regional transportation network.

At NNEPRA, we support transit projects that make it easier for people to get where they need to go. Connecting bus service, rail, and other modes of transportation helps simplify the “last mile” for passengers and creates a more seamless travel experience across the region.

NNEPRA was excited to celebrate this new service and the connections it will create for Scarborough and the surrounding communities. Congratulations to GP METRO and all of the partners who helped make this important transit investment a reality!

– Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director, NNEPRA

See Tracks Think Train

September 21–27, 2026, marked the 10th annual “See Tracks? Think Train!” week, a national rail safety campaign promoted by Operation Lifesaver to raise awareness about the dangers around railroad tracks and trains. NNEPRA and the Amtrak Downeaster are proud to partner with Operation Lifesaver year-round to promote rail safety. Through education and public outreach, we work to share important safety information and help reduce preventable injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks and trains.

As part of this year’s campaign, NNEPRA staff participated in Red Out for Rail Safety alongside our station communities in Freeport, Maine, and Exeter, New Hampshire. These events provided an opportunity to help raise awareness and reinforce the importance of making safe choices near railroad crossings and tracks. We are grateful to our partners, staff, and communities for helping us spread this lifesaving message. Together, we can help keep our communities safe and Stop Track Tragedies.

We encourage our community to take the pledge (13 and up) and spread the word about train and track safety.

Click here for the Kids Safety Pledge.

Click here for the Pre-K Safety Pledge.

Connecting with the Communities We Serve

NNEPRA has been on the move, connecting with residents, students, families, and community partners at events throughout the Amtrak Downeaster corridor.

Recent appearances at Portland Sea Dogs games, the University of Southern Maine’s Husky Fest and the University of New Hampshire’s U-Day created valuable opportunities for the NNEPRA Team to interact directly with the people and communities we serve and to answer questions about station access, affordable fares and discounts, onboard amenities and car-free connections to destinations along the Downeaster Corridor.

– Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director, NNEPRA

Groundbreaking Investments In New England

Major investments in rail infrastructure are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected transportation network across Northern New England.

NNEPRA was proud to participate in two groundbreaking infrastructure milestones that will have lasting impacts on passengers, communities, freight operators, and the regional economy: the North Station Draw One Bridge Replacement Project in Boston and the Haverhill Double-Track Project along the Haverhill Commuter Rail Line.

Together, these projects represent significant investments in the future of rail transportation and will directly benefit Amtrak’s Downeaster, commuter rail passengers, and freight operations.

North Station Draw Bridge

– Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director, NNEPRA

Relocating Portland Station

Last month, the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) and the public got word that NNEPRA would receive $48 million in federal funding for the design and construction of a new Amtrak Downeaster passenger rail station on St. John Street in Portland. This was fantastic news, and credit goes to many stakeholders, including to Maine’s congressional delegation.

Understandably, there have been questions about moving the station, but there’s an incredible amount of optimism for a project that can re-energize part of the city, improve connections in the region and save time and money.

Read the Full Story: Written by Chairman Cohen and Vice Chairman Cassavant | Published by the Portland Press Herald

– Chairman Jim Cohen

– Vice Chairman Alan Cassavant

Public Feedback on Service Development Plan

NNEPRA recently hosted public open houses in Freeport, Saco, and Portland to share information about the Service Development Plan and gather input on the future of Downeaster service.

Attendees explored interactive boards, viewed a presentation, and spoke with the project team about potential service improvements.

A clear message emerged from the public feedback: people want more trains and faster trains. Attendees expressed strong interest in increased service frequency and shorter travel times. There was also strong support for relocating the Portland station to better serve passengers and support future growth in passenger rail service.

Public input from the open houses will help inform the Service Development Plan as NNEPRA continues to evaluate opportunities to improve and expand Downeaster service.

NNEPRA thanks everyone who participated and shared their feedback.

– Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director, NNEPRA

Building a Stronger Future

Supporting and Enhancing Existing Amtrak Downeaster Service

Initiatives and programs under consideration.

The NNEPRA team is committed to the sustained growth of the Amtrak Downeaster and is exploring innovative ways to improve mobility, advance safety, support a growing economy, and provide value for the people of Maine and Northern New England. Over the course of 2025/2026, NNEPRA will focus on the following initiatives:

Inbound Commuter Service

Capacity improvements to improve reliability are underway. In March 2020, NNEPRA was awarded federal funding to complete the Wells Siding Project which not only adds track capacity, but supports a new morning inbound Downeaster train between Wells and Brunswick. This will give workers in Maine more car-free travel options for their commute. The Project is in the final stages of design, and is expected to be completed in fall 2026.

Portland Station Improvements

NNEPRA, in cooperation with MaineDOT, is exploring Portland station alternates on the mainline. The current station, located on a branch line, requires Downeaster trains to stop and back into the station for more than a mile, adding time to the schedule. Mainline alternatives will improve Downeaster connectivity to and within the greater Portland region by reducing travel time, decreasing bottlenecks, and improving transit connections.

West Falmouth/Exit 53 Station Stop

NNEPRA is exploring an additional Downeaster stop in West Falmouth, located just off Exit 53 of I-95. This new stop will provide improved connectivity from the I-95 corridor and reduce parking demand in Portland.

Amtrak Downeaster Coastal Connection

NNEPRA and the Maine Department of Transportation will monitor opportunities to introduce regularly scheduled Downeaster service on the state-owned Rockland Branch between Brunswick and Rockland, Maine.

Planning initiatives that explore the potential for new passenger rail services in Maine:

Lewiston/Auburn Passenger Rail Service Plan

NNEPRA managed for MaineDOT a Service Plan for commuter rail service between L/A and Portland which identified ridership potential, outlined corridor options and estimated costs. MaineDOT completed an economic evaluation study in in 2023. More details can be found here.

Portland-Westbrook Rail Shuttle Feasibility Study

In partnership with private developers, NNEPRA completed a high-level feasibility study of a rail shuttle between Westbrook and Portland, connecting high-density developments with the downtown and local transit options. 

NNEPRA appreciates the financial support provided by the State of Maine, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), as well as CSX, the MBTA and Amtrak, that enables us to plan and execute projects to improve reliability, enhance safety, and expand service.

Supporting Economic Development

More Than Passenger Rail

Supporting economic development along the Downeaster corridor.

The Amtrak Downeaster provides an integral transportation network for residents of Northern New England, from Brunswick, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts. While making travel more accessible, convenient and affordable than ever before with passenger rail service for commuters and tourists, economic growth and development at the eleven stations and station communities has also benefitted positively.

Brunswick, ME

Brunswick Station, located on a former Brownfield site, has emerged as a bustling hub of activity. Here visitors can find numerous restaurants, retail businesses, medical facilities, residential property opportunities, as well as hotel and town offices.

Thompson’s Point, ME

Located adjacent to the Portland Transportation Center, this once overlooked and underutilized industrial site on the Fore River in the heart of Portland has been completely transformed. The site is now an exciting activity and entertainment complex featuring breweries, event pavilion welcoming national touring acts and festivals, the location of the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine.

Saco/Biddeford, ME

Considered one of the fastest growing areas in Maine, the historic mills around the Saco Transportation Center have been reinvented into modern apartments and incubator work spaces, home to breweries, theaters, restaurants, and numerous businesses. Plans for an expansion and inclusion of a hotel, as well as recreation areas are underway.

Dover, NH

More than $100 million dollars in new residential and commercial development is currently taking place in and around Dover station and the downtown, making Dover one of New Hampshire’s fastest-growing cities.

Exeter, NH

Transformation in the form of improved landscaping, streetscape and sidewalks have recently been completed around Exeter Station enhancing the safety and overall welcoming aesthetic of the area.

Boston, MA

The Hub on Causeway, a $1.1 billion dollar mixed use development including retail, restaurants, a hotel, grocery store, restaurants, apartments and commercial space, has transformed Boston’s North Station into a massive entertainment and transit center.

To learn more about Downeaster stations and amenities, please visit our station page.